Regarding "Texas is proud of history - but neglects historical sites" (Page B1, Saturday), one thing all Americans should be aware of is the Battleship Texas is a national treasure and should be treated as such. This ship is in need of repairs that should be supported by the U.S. government just as much as the repairs done to the Washington Monument.

Here in Houston we explore and research what to do with the Astrodome. I bet it could hold the Battleship Texas in drydock and also become a climate-controlled and mosquito-free Texas Historical Museum. One more thing to consider is Birds of War could be hung by wire from the Dome ceiling also.

I fully agree that the San Jacinto Monument is in need of repairs, but the reflecting pool is in need of immediate repairs and accessibility to handicapped.

Regarding "HISD schools shouldn't honor Confederacy" (Page B9, Thursday), Sen. Rodney Ellis points out the diversity of our city, yet of the six schools that he would like to see a name change four of the six have a student population of Hispanics at between 70 percent and 90 percent. Is this what we are calling diversity now?

Sandra Black, Houston

History lessons

Regarding "Finally, enlightment on the Confederate flag" (Page B14, Sunday), in our politically correct society, will we be taking this Confederate flag controversy down a slippery slope?

First, we have the flags coming down. Now they are talking about moving statues of Confederate heroes and changing the names of streets, schools and buildings also named for them.

If we want to be completely politically correct, then shouldn't we then change the name of those states that made up the Confederacy?

My question is how are people in the future going to ever learn from history if we try to erase it? It happened, we need to learn from it so that we will never repeat it again.

Regarding "The magician" (Page B15, Sunday), the editorial is correct to criticize Gov. Abbott's instructions to state officials to resist the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on gay marriage.

However, it does not go far enough in response to this echo of massive resistance and its ugly history in our state. Abbott is a lawyer and therefore cannot plausibly claim not to know that in the American form of self-government, the U.S. Supreme Court has the final word on the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.

Our recently inaugurated governor has violated his oath of office, in which he swore to us, the citizens of the great state of Texas and before God that he would "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State, so help me God."